Mark Perry, blogging at Carpe Diem, offers up a little perspective: Exxon’s profit per gallon of gasoline sold runs a little about 2 cents, while federal, state, and local gasoline taxes per gallon of gasoline range from a low of 26.4 cents (Alaska) to a high of 66 cents (California, New York).

…; and, Exxon Mobil actually did something to earn that profit, unlike the states and the feds.

Would it be impolitic to note that the reported profit is after state and federal income tax and a host of other taxes? (Exxon Mobil paid $26 billion in total taxes during the quarter, including $8 billion in income taxes. Source: WSJ Market Watch)

I will assume that the Seals were paid in part from Exxon Mobil taxes. That portion of Exxon Mobil taxes would actually have been used in the pursuit of the powers enumerated for the federal government in the Constitution, unlike the majority of those taxes.